Mark Towhey tapped as Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's Chief of Staff

Toronto
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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has selected Mark Towhey, the mayor's Director of Policy and Strategic Planning, to be his Chief of Staff. Earl Provost has served as Acting Chief of Staff since Amir Remtulla stepped down in July.

As of Aug. 20, Mark Towhey will begin his role as Mayor Rob Ford’s Chief of Staff. Towhey, who is a rather clandestine figure in the Ford administration, has worked for Ford since day one when he joined the Ford for Mayor Campaign in 2010.

Since Dec. 1, 2010, Towhey has worked as the mayor’s Director of Policy and Strategic Planning. He has also spent his career as a management consultant working with various private and public sector clients in Canada and the United States.

Towhey will take the reins from interim Chief of Staff Earl Rovost, who will return to his duties as Director of Stakeholder and Council Relations. Rovost was tapped as the Acting Chief of Staff following Amir Remtulla resigning from his post last month.

“Mark has been a key leader on my team since the very beginning of my campaign in 2010,” the mayor said in a statement. “He is a trusted advisor and well-respected in my office. He knows my objectives better than anyone and will help ensure we achieve them over the next two years.”

“I'm looking forward to taking on this new role," said Towhey in media release. "The Mayor has an impressive list of accomplishments from his first 21 months in office. However, there is still a great deal to be done over the next two years. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Ford, his Executive Committee and City Council to help them get that work done."

The announcement comes one day after the mayor announced a Chicago business mission trip next month and a photo taken of Ford reading documents, while driving at the same time, which has captured headlines across the city.